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Before sowing the seed of Dharma, it needs to be purified. As it is said, "Dhammo Suddhassa Chitthai." Dharma resides only in a pure heart. To purify the soul and establish it in Dharma, certain rules are prescribed in the Agamas. One of the main rules is "Aavashyak." "Aavashyak" is the lifeblood of Jain practice and a great means of examining and testing one's soul. As the name suggests, it contains essential topics. The nature of the daily duties to be performed by the fourfold sangha - Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravak, and Shravika - is expounded in the Aavashyak Sutra. This Sutra concisely describes the potential for faults to arise in daily life, in a way that everyone can easily understand. However, there are some points to consider regarding the Shraman Sutra.
**Doubt (1):** Since the name Shraman belongs to the Sadhu, is it appropriate for only the Sadhu to read the Shraman Sutra, or should the Shravak also read it?
**Solution (1):** The narrow interpretation that Shraman is only the name of the Sadhu is not scripturally sound. The Vyākhyāprajñapti (Bhagavati) Sutra, in the eighth Uddeshak of the twentieth Shatak, states: "Titt'ham Puṇ Chauvvaṇṇaiṇṇe Samaṇasaṁghe, Taṁ Jaha - Samaṇā, Samaṇīo, Sāvagā, Sāviyāo." This means that the Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravak, and Shravika, all four, are called the Shraman Sangha. Although in practice, Shraman is the name of the Sadhu, the Bhagavan has referred to all four Tirthas as the Shraman Sangha. Every seeker should accept this word of the Aapta.
**Doubt (2):** The Shraman Sutra only speaks of the conduct of the Sadhu, so it is appropriate for only the Sadhu to read it. What use is it for the Shravak?
**Solution (2):** The text of the Shraman Sutra is extremely useful in many Dharma practices performed by the Shravak. For example:
(1) When a Shravak is asleep during a Poushadh Vrat or Sanvar, to be free from the faults that arise during sleep, one should first recite the Margshudhi (Iriyavahyam), then recite the Kayotsarg (Tass Uttari), then recite the Kayotsarg of the two Logas, and then recite the first text of the Shraman Sutra, "Ichchhami Padikkaamiuṁ Pagamasijjaye." There is no other text to be free from the faults of sleep.
(2) The eleventh (eleventh) Padima Dharis Shravak are only Bhikshopajivis, and in many places, Shravaks who observe the Dayavat (holders of the tenth Vrat) also perform Gochari. To be free from the faults that arise in it, one must recite the second text, "Padikkaamami Goyaraggachariya."
(3) The twenty-first Adhyayan of the Shri Uttaradhyayanasutra states: "Niggan'the Paavayane Saave Se Vi Kovie." This means that the Shravak who observes the Vrats was a Kovid (scholar) in the Nirgranth Pravachan (scripture). This text proves that the Shravak is a scholar of the scriptures. And in the twenty-second Adhyayan, "Silavanta Bahussuya," it is said that Shri Rajamatiji had read many Sutras at the time of her initiation. This proves that the Shravika is a scholar of the scriptures. If they have not performed Samayik, Poushadh Vrat, or written down clothes, money, etc., then to be free from that fault, one should recite the third text, "Padikkaamami Chaukalam Sajjhayass Akaranyaye."
(4) From the first to the thirty-third verses in the fourth text, all are to be known (Jney). Some are to be abandoned (Hey) and some are to be accepted (Upadeya). Each action is very useful. Therefore, knowledge of them is also essential for the Shravaks.